Up to this point I have resisted collecting Citi ThankYou points. But two unique airline transfer partners are causing me to rethink the decision. Citi partners with Turkish Airlines and Qantas. Both provide narrow value and yet may nevertheless be...
United Airlines’ Humanitarian Relief Flights to Houston
Brutal Hurricane Harvey continues to wreak havoc on Texas. Thousands of people are in desperate need of assistance and even some evacuation centers are now flooded. United Airlines is stepping up to help with seven humanitarian relief flights to...
Flying Lufthansa First Class with Hollywood Stars, Oligarchs, and Executives
Yesterday I flew Lufthansa First Class from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The 8-seat cabin was filled with a mix of A-list stars, a former Lufthansa executive, and a wealthy Ukrainian family. It made for an interesting flight… I am...
So Much for Flying Air Berlin…
I am on a business trip to Europe to this week and had planned to travel on Air Berlin from Los Angeles to Dusseldorf yesterday. Unfortunately, the carrier’s bankruptcy complicated my plans. Although this trip has been scheduled for...
Retro Concept: Boarding Pass No Longer Required at PIT to Clear Security
Starting next week you will not need a boarding pass to access the secure gate areas at Pittsburgh International Airport. I think that is a great thing. When I was young, flying was a big deal in my house....
Hyatt’s Status Fast Track Highlights Overcorrections
Hyatt announced that they are offering a fast track to World of Hyatt status to new and existing Hyatt credit card holders. However, this move seems to demonstrate a protracted series of over-corrections and it’s starting to wear on...
My Amenity Kit Seatmate Did Something Deplorable
Yesterday I wrote about an amenity kit incident onboard my Alitalia flight from Rome to Los Angeles. Something happened later in the flight that I am struggling to process. First, let me preface this story by saying that it...
Review: Uzbekistan Airways A320 Business Class Tashkent to Dushanbe
Great service and a decent meal characterized a short 189-mile flight from the capital of Uzbekistan to the capital of Tajikistan on Uzbekistan Airways. After leaving the lounge and being “chauffeured” by bus to the aircraft, we boarded via...
My Seatmate Goes Ballistic When I Touch His Amenity Kit
Hello all, live from 38,000 feet onboard my Alitalia flight from Rome to Los Angeles. Time for a confession: I made a mistake today. At least, I think I did… During boarding, FAs distributed amenity kits. Amenity kits are...
United CEO Comments on Hurricane Harvey
Hurricane Harvey has hit Texas harder than expected, impacting millions, displacing hundreds of thousands and taking the lives of at least five people. The storm has shuttered United’s fortress hub at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston until at least...
Why Doesn’t IHG Treat Elites Better?
As a top-tier elite with Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, Starwood and Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) it’s become clear, IHG doesn’t treat their elites well. But why? The hotel chain has more than 4,700 hotels worldwide, they are highly profitable but...
Review: Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor – Suite
Due to my United 1K Status Match/Challenge I found myself positioning in Boston ahead of a flight to Shanghai. While this is not my first stay at the Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor, it was my first time in one...
Crazy Low International Fares on Air Canada
If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. DealRay sent me an alert regarding unbelievable deals to international locations from several...
Review: InterContinental Hotel Shanghai Ruijin
Traveling to Shanghai, the opportunities for amazing hotels are endless. Previously I had stayed at most Hyatt hotels in Shanghai proper but none of the other brands (see Matthew’s review of the Grand Hyatt Shanghai). This visit I found...
The Airline Meal I’ve Had Most Often
Those of us who fly often tend to settle into a routine. Admit it. Same security line, same seat in the lounge, same seat onboard, same meal. For my Meal of the Week segment this week, I pay homage...
Miracle: Alitalia Award Space Opened to Los Angeles!
It may be my first and only trip on Alitalia, but I’m ecstatic it will be from Rome to Los Angeles instead of Rome to Mexico City. Who would have thought that Alitalia would open up an award seat...
A 20-Minute Flight from Amman to Tel Aviv on Royal Jordanian
I recently flew from Amman to Tel Aviv on Royal Jordanian, a 69-mile flight. Is business class worthwhile on such a short hop? The uniqueness of such a flight did not go unnoticed: Jordan is one of two Arab...
Review: Uzbekistan Airways Business Lounge Tashkent (TAS)
While not Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal in Frankfurt, the CIP Hall at Tashkent Airport offers an impressive lounge service for premium class passengers and those willing to pay for it. This service is free for business class passengers on...
Five Things You Cannot Miss in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Tashkent is a fascinating city in the heart of Asia. It was the fourth most populous city in the Soviet Union and a hub of research and learning. But the ancient Silk Road city has an oddly modern look....
